This blog began through a NIFA grant for Missouri Beginning Farmers. It continues today as a way for beginning farmers to learn about new ideas and to hear about upcoming events of interest. It is maintained by Debi Kelly (kellyd@missouri.edu).

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As an Extension Associate with the University of Missouri, I work with beginning farmers, small farms, alternative agriculture and organic farming. I am also the Co-coordinator for the Missouri Sustainable Agriculture and Research (SARE) Education Professional Development Program (PDP).

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Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Free Basic Coverage Plans and Premium Discounts Available for New, Underserved and Limited Income Farmers

Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that greater protection is now
available from the Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for crops that
traditionally have been ineligible for federal crop insurance. The new options,
created by the 2014 Farm Bill, provide greater coverage for losses when natural
disasters affect specialty crops such as vegetables, fruits, mushrooms,
floriculture, ornamental nursery, aquaculture, turf grass, ginseng, honey,
syrup, and energy crops.

“These
new protections will help ensure that farm families growing crops for food,
fiber or livestock consumption will be better able to withstand losses due to
natural disasters,” said Vilsack. “For years, commodity crop farmers have had
the ability to purchase insurance to keep their crops protected, and it only
makes sense that fruit and vegetable, and other specialty crop growers, should
be able to purchase similar levels of protection. Ensuring these farmers can
adequately protect themselves from factors beyond their control is also
critical for consumers who enjoy these products and for communities whose
economies depend on them.”

Previously,
the program offered coverage at 55 percent of the average market price for crop
losses that exceed 50 percent of expected production. Producers can now choose
higher levels of coverage, up to 65 percent of their expected production at 100
percent of the average market price.

The
expanded protection will be especially helpful to beginning and traditionally
underserved producers, as well as farmers with limited resources, who will
receive fee waivers and premium reductions for expanded coverage. More crops
are now eligible for the program, including expanded aquaculture production
practices, and sweet and biomass sorghum. For the first time, a range of crops
used to produce bioenergy will be eligible as well.

“If
America is to remain food secure and continue exporting food to the world, we
need to do everything we can to help new farmers get started and succeed in
agriculture,” Vilsack said. “This program will help new and socially
disadvantaged farmers affordably manage risk, making farming a much more
attractive business proposition.”

To
help producers learn more about the Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
and how it can help them, USDA, in partnership with Michigan State University
and the University of Illinois, created an online resource. The Web tool,
available at www.fsa.usda.gov/nap, allows
producers to determine whether their crops are eligible for coverage. It also
gives them an opportunity to explore a variety of options and levels to
determine the best protection level for their operation.

If
the application deadline for an eligible crop has already passed, producers
will have until Jan. 14, 2015, to choose expanded coverage through the
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. To learn more, visit the Farm
Service Agency (FSA) website at www.fsa.usda.gov/nap
or contact your local FSA office at offices.usda.gov.
The Farm Service Agency (FSA), which administers the program, also wants to
hear from producers and other interested stakeholders who may have suggestions
or recommendations on the program. Written comments will be accepted until Feb.
13, 2015 and can be submitted through www.regulations.gov.

These
new provisions under the Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program were made
possible through the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in
rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and
billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, USDA has made
significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation,
including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk
management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research;
establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing
new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing
and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural
America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.